#436 Choosing Lions

The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”

2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

6 David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah,Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lordlives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home. 1 Samuel 26 NIV

Saul's resolutions to do good and refrain from evil are not long lasting. He is impulsive in his declarations but without substance in his follow through. David has spared his life not only from his own hand, but he also protected him from others. So many think that having someone else do their "dirty work", reduces their responsibility. Sadly, he will not always have this restraint and we who are born of a fallen nature will typically go after our nature, unless something holds us back, teaches us differently, becomes more profitable. Even in this state we have an idea of right and wrong, but Saul is king, and so does this appeal poorly to our fallen natures? Does this place him at the top of authority, above right or wrong, does might make so, money, power, numbers? How can he justify these campaigns of military force against David? 

Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passer-by. 11As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. 12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him Proverbs 26:11

Here he is back at the same place as before, regardless of what David has done for him and not against him. This time Saul sleeps and all his guard with him, surely it is of the Lord, but wait, it is to David's innocence, his own true piety. He has seen in Nabal that God is just, that it was better to wait, but here by super natural means, this army sleeps, a deep sleep, and it quickly becomes the advisement of his men to kill Saul. Why else would God bring me down here to witness such a thing? It makes me wonder about much. Is the upper hand sometimes given so that the one who has it may show mercy? This is the Lord's doing, and I understand your passion towards our enemy, but God has also shown us his frailty. He is in rule over us for now, but it is for me to pray and trust God in this. I do not want to be guilty of his blood, this belongs to God, and God is handing us a great comfort here in watching him sleep, counting this present trouble as a small thing and this trial not worth the sacrifice of our integrity. 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1: 2-8

David takes proof of his closeness, evidence of his intentions, and he scolds Abner quite justly. I first thought rather sarcastically, but such are the conversations against my own self at times. Abner, how could you let this happen? A wise man takes correction, and have we watched over ourselves, our minds, families and friends so well as we thought? What am I doing here, and if God has placed me so close to the king, then should I not advise him against his folly? If I say nothing to my boss because he is arrogant, but go along with him, walking toward the pit, is this so great a service, should I applaud such devotion? I use to laugh at Christians, and I should say both kind for their are few who take up their cross and follow Christ, and the other because they think they are Christians without that. I would laugh at the ones who would turn the other cheek, who would not only tell their boss he is wrong but also prostrate themselves before God on his behalf. He is given the chance to repent but you are also asking for those eyes that would let him see and recognize the pit. I would laugh at you because it looks so weak, it doesn't feed my ego, it just didn't seem logical. I would have to tear down my idol, my peace and quiet may become disrupted. What if I am following the king to a place so far from the path that I cannot find my way back? God I beg of You wisdom, but also grace and love, for it is wrong to pretend at any without the other, to say nothing or do nothing is not a friend at all nor in deed. 

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5: 19 & 20